Climate Clean FAQ
Last Updated: Nov 14, 2025
Frequently asked questions about Climate Clean’s carbon offset services, Intelligent Offsets, and how we help you achieve true climate neutrality.
About Climate Clean
What is Climate Clean?
Climate Clean is a vertically integrated carbon management firm dedicated to providing scientifically-verified carbon offsets that meet the highest standards of credibility and transparency. We serve Fortune 500 corporations, non-profit organizations, automobile dealerships, and individual consumers who demand real, measurable climate impact rather than questionable claims.
Our services include greenhouse gas footprint monitoring, the Climate Clean Embedded Label for consumer products, and CSR advisory services. We operate on the principle that claiming an offset reduces carbon and proving it are two fundamentally different things—and we provide the proof.
What does it mean to be “Climate Clean”?
To be Climate Clean is to achieve true greenhouse gas (GHG) neutrality through our Intelligent Offset system. Unlike basic carbon neutrality, which typically addresses only CO₂, Climate Clean offsets match your complete emission signature, including all greenhouse gases your vehicle or activity produces.
Our Intelligent Offsets are multi-gas offsets designed to match the exact composition of your GHG footprint. If your vehicle produces methane, nitrous oxide, or other greenhouse gases, we offset those as well. The result: you’re not just carbon neutral—you’re Climate Clean™.
Why should I choose Climate Clean over other offset providers?
Climate Clean distinguishes itself through scientific rigor, transparency, and uncompromising quality standards. We operate on the principle that “only the best will do,” which means:
- Verified Registry: All offsets are permanently retired on Markit Environmental Registry, the world’s largest carbon credit registry
- RSVPE Standard: Every offset meets our five-condition standard: Real, Surplus, Verifiable, Permanent, and Enforceable
- Intelligent Offsets: Multi-gas precision matching, not generic CO₂-only offsets
- Scientific Foundation: We invest in rigorous verification because claiming an offset and proving it are two different things
- Protection from Greenwashing: Our offsets withstand scrutiny from scientific and environmental communities
We prioritize quality and credibility over low prices, ensuring your offset purchase represents real, measurable climate impact.
Understanding Carbon Offsets
Why should I offset my vehicle’s emissions?
Transportation is one of the leading contributors to atmospheric pollution and climate change. While long-term solutions like electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure are being developed, carbon offsets provide an immediate, effective way to balance your vehicle’s emissions today.
Climate Clean enables you to offset your vehicle’s emission signature from the moment of ownership, creating a bridge to a more sustainable future while supporting verified emission reduction projects around the world.
I thought all carbon offsets came from trees?
While forestry projects are one type of carbon offset, they represent only a portion of available offset options—and they come with significant challenges:
Measurement Challenges: Scientists have yet to establish universally agreed-upon methods for accurately measuring carbon sequestered in trees. Different methodologies can produce vastly different results.
Permanence Concerns: It’s difficult to guarantee the permanence of a forest. Natural disasters, disease, economic pressures, or policy changes can result in deforestation, releasing stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
Leakage Risk: Protecting a forest in one location may inadvertently lead to increased deforestation elsewhere, negating the environmental benefit.
Climate Clean’s portfolio includes forestry projects only when they meet our rigorous standards and demonstrate clear additionality and permanence. However, we maintain a diverse portfolio that also includes methane capture, waste heat recovery, GHG destruction, and other verified emission reduction projects.
What about wind power and other “green energy” projects?
This is a critical distinction in the carbon offset market. Simply generating renewable energy does not, in itself, create a valid carbon offset. For a green energy project to qualify as an offset, it must:
Displace Fossil Fuels: The renewable energy must directly displace an equivalent amount of fossil fuel energy from the grid, rather than simply supplementing existing energy supply.
Demonstrate Additionality: The project must prove it would not have occurred without revenue from offset sales. Many renewable energy projects are already economically viable or mandated by regulations, meaning they lack additionality.
Avoid Double-Counting: The emission reductions must not be claimed elsewhere (e.g., in renewable energy credit programs).
Climate Clean does not sell credits from green energy projects that cannot verify their additionality or demonstrate direct emission displacement. We focus on projects that create measurable, verifiable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
How are Climate Clean’s offsets different from others?
Climate Clean offsets are distinguished by our rigorous selection criteria and comprehensive approach:
Quality Standards: We source offsets from projects that meet internationally recognized standards (CDM, Gold Standard) and exceed basic compliance through our proprietary RSVPE criteria.
Multi-Gas Approach: Our Intelligent Offsets address all greenhouse gases in your emission signature, not just CO₂. This comprehensive approach ensures true climate neutrality.
Verification and Transparency: Every offset is verified by third-party reviewers, permanently retired on Markit registry, and fully traceable from project to retirement.
Diverse Portfolio: We curate a diverse portfolio of high-quality projects across multiple categories and geographies, ensuring robust impact and risk mitigation.
Scientific Rigor: We invest in comprehensive verification processes because we believe claiming an offset reduces carbon and proving it are fundamentally different—and we provide the proof.
The VIN Calculator
How does Climate Clean calculate my vehicle’s emissions?
Climate Clean uses our proprietary VIN Calculator system, which provides the most accurate emission calculation available without physically testing your vehicle. The process works as follows:
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VIN Decoding: Your 17-character Vehicle Identification Number contains encoded information about your vehicle’s make, model, year, engine specifications, transmission, and fuel type.
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EPA Data Correlation: The system correlates your vehicle’s specifications with official Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy and emission factor data.
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Precise Calculation: Using EPA MPG ratings and emission factors specific to your vehicle configuration, the calculator determines your exact emission rate per mile.
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Multi-Gas Analysis: The system calculates emissions for all greenhouse gases your vehicle produces, including CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, and other pollutants.
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Total Emissions: Based on your selected mileage (e.g., 12,000 miles/year for 5 years), the system calculates your total greenhouse gas emissions in CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e).
This VIN-based approach ensures precision that generic calculators cannot match, as it uses your exact vehicle specifications rather than class averages.
How accurate is the VIN Calculator?
The VIN Calculator uses official EPA data correlated to your specific vehicle, providing the most accurate emission calculation possible without physically testing your vehicle. The EPA database includes comprehensive testing data for virtually all vehicles sold in the United States, and our system accounts for real-world driving conditions that may differ from laboratory test cycles.
For very new or rare vehicles not yet in the EPA database, the system uses the closest matching vehicle configuration and applies appropriate adjustment factors based on engine technology and vehicle class.
Does the calculator account for my driving style?
The VIN Calculator uses EPA test data, which represents standardized driving conditions designed to reflect average real-world usage. While your actual emissions may vary based on driving habits, traffic conditions, and maintenance, the offset package covers the EPA-rated emissions for your selected mileage.
This approach ensures your offsets fully cover your vehicle’s rated emissions, providing a conservative and reliable offset package.
Can I offset more miles later?
Absolutely. Once you’ve driven the miles covered by your initial offset package, you can purchase additional offsets through any Climate Clean dealer. This allows you to maintain your Climate Clean status as you continue driving.
Offset Quality and Verification
Where do Climate Clean offsets come from?
Climate Clean carefully sources offsets from a diverse portfolio of verified emission reduction projects located around the world. Our portfolio includes:
- Methane Capture Projects: Landfill gas capture, dairy operations, wastewater treatment
- Energy Efficiency Projects: Industrial efficiency improvements, building retrofits
- Waste Heat Recovery: Utilization of waste heat from industrial processes
- GHG Destruction: Direct destruction of potent greenhouse gases
- Renewable Energy: Only projects that demonstrate clear additionality and displacement
- Forestry Projects: Afforestation and reforestation projects that meet strict permanence and leakage controls
All projects must meet internationally recognized standards (CDM, Gold Standard) and our proprietary RSVPE criteria before inclusion in our portfolio.
How do I know the offsets are real and not just a marketing claim?
This is perhaps the most important question in the carbon offset market, and it’s why Climate Clean invests so heavily in verification and transparency:
Markit Registry Retirement: All Climate Clean offsets are permanently retired on Markit Environmental Registry, the world’s largest carbon credit registry. This provides an immutable, verifiable record of your offset purchase.
Third-Party Verification: Every offset project undergoes rigorous third-party validation and verification before credits are issued. This independent review ensures projects meet stated standards.
Transparency: Your Climate Clean certificate includes verification information and a QR code that links directly to your offset record on the Markit registry.
RSVPE Standard: Our five-condition standard ensures offsets are Real (verified and measurable), Surplus (additional), Verifiable (third-party validated), Permanent (long-term), and Enforceable (legally binding).
Scientific Scrutiny: Our offsets are designed to withstand scrutiny from scientific and environmental communities. We welcome this scrutiny because we have the proof.
What does RSVPE mean?
RSVPE is Climate Clean’s five-condition standard that every offset in our portfolio must meet:
- Real: Offsets represent verified and measurable emission reductions, not theoretical or projected reductions
- Surplus: Also known as “additionality”—the emission reductions would not have occurred without the offset project funding
- Verifiable: Projects undergo stringent design, monitoring, measurement, and verification processes by independent third parties
- Permanent: Reductions are long-term and sustainable, not temporary or reversible
- Enforceable: Projects have legally binding agreements ensuring continued operation and emission reductions
This standard ensures that every offset you purchase through Climate Clean represents real, additional, and permanent climate impact.
Do the offsets last forever?
The emission reduction credits that offset your vehicle’s emissions are permanent once retired on the Markit registry. However, your vehicle continues to produce emissions as you drive.
Your offset package covers a specific number of miles (e.g., 60,000 miles over 5 years). Once you’ve driven those miles, your vehicle’s emissions are no longer balanced by offsets. At that point, you can purchase additional offsets to maintain your Climate Clean status.
The important distinction: the offsets themselves are permanent and cannot be reused, but you may need to purchase additional offsets as you continue driving beyond your initial coverage period.
The Process
Do I need to make any changes to my vehicle?
No modifications are required to your vehicle. Climate Clean applies offsets created elsewhere in the world against your vehicle’s physical emissions, effectively balancing your climate impact. The entire process is handled remotely—we never need to see or modify your vehicle.
What happens after I purchase offsets?
Once your transaction is complete:
- Immediate Processing: Climate Clean matches your vehicle’s emission signature with appropriate offsets from our curated portfolio
- Registry Retirement: The matched offsets are permanently retired on Markit Environmental Registry
- Certificate Delivery: You receive a personalized Climate Clean certificate detailing your offset purchase
- Verification Access: Your certificate includes a QR code linking to verification information on the Markit registry
- Vehicle Sticker: You receive a Climate Clean sticker to display on your vehicle (optional)
The dealership’s participation in the process is complete at the time of purchase. No ongoing maintenance or additional work is required.
How do I get started?
The process is straightforward:
- Visit a Climate Clean Dealer: Find a participating Climate Clean dealer near you
- Use the VIN Calculator: The dealer will enter your vehicle’s VIN and help you select your mileage coverage
- Choose Your Projects: Select which types of offset projects you’d like to support
- Complete Purchase: The offset cost can often be integrated into your vehicle financing, making it affordable through small monthly payments
- Receive Your Certificate: You’ll receive your Climate Clean certificate, sticker, and verification information
The entire process typically takes just minutes and can be completed during your vehicle purchase or financing process.
Can I purchase offsets directly, or do I need to go through a dealer?
Climate Clean offers multiple channels for purchasing offsets:
- Auto Dealers: The most common channel, integrated into vehicle purchases
- Direct Consumer Sales: Available through our website and customer service
- Corporate Programs: Bulk purchasing for fleets and corporate sustainability programs
Contact us directly to discuss the best option for your needs.
Pricing and Value
How much do offsets cost?
Offset pricing varies based on several factors:
- Vehicle Emissions: Higher-emitting vehicles require more offsets
- Mileage Selected: More miles covered means more offsets needed
- Project Selection: Different offset project types have different costs
- Coverage Period: Longer coverage periods may offer pricing advantages
The cost is typically modest—often just a few dollars per month when integrated into vehicle financing. Your Climate Clean dealer can provide an exact quote based on your specific vehicle and coverage preferences.
Why are Climate Clean offsets priced higher than some competitors?
Climate Clean prioritizes quality and credibility over low prices. Higher pricing reflects:
- Verification Costs: Comprehensive third-party validation and verification
- Quality Standards: Projects that meet or exceed international standards
- Registry Fees: Markit registry retirement ensures permanent, verifiable offsets
- Scientific Rigor: Investment in ensuring offsets are real, measurable, and permanent
- Transparency: Full traceability and documentation
We believe that protecting against greenwashing criticism and ensuring real climate impact is worth the investment. Claiming an offset reduces carbon and proving it are two different things—and proof costs more than claims.
What’s the catch? This sounds too good to be true.
There is no catch. Climate Clean provides a legitimate, verified service that enables you to balance your vehicle’s emissions through scientifically-validated carbon offsets.
The process is transparent: we calculate your emissions, match them with verified offsets, retire those offsets on the world’s largest registry, and provide you with proof. The offsets represent real emission reductions from verified projects around the world.
The only “catch” is that this is a real service with real costs—but those costs are modest, transparent, and reflect the value of verified, credible offsets that protect you from greenwashing criticism.
Why Climate Clean?
Verified & Transparent
- All offsets permanently retired on Markit, the world’s largest carbon credit registry
- RSVPE standard: Real, Surplus, Verifiable, Permanent, Enforceable
- Third-party verified and fully traceable
Intelligent Offsets
- Multi-gas precision matching (not just CO₂)
- Matches your vehicle’s complete emission signature
- You’re not just carbon neutral—you’re Climate Clean™
Scientific Rigor
- “Claiming an offset reduces carbon and proving it are two different things”
- We provide the proof through comprehensive verification
- Protection from greenwashing criticism
Key Facts
- Registry: Markit Environmental Registry (world’s largest)
- Standards: RSVPE compliant, CDM/Gold Standard approved
- Approach: Multi-gas Intelligent Offsets
- Verification: Third-party validated and verified
- Transparency: Full traceability from project to retirement
Get Started
Visit a Climate Clean dealer to:
- Calculate your vehicle’s emissions using the VIN Calculator
- Select your mileage coverage
- Choose offset projects to support
- Complete your purchase (often integrated into financing)
- Receive your certificate and verification